Trek America

JamesU2005 · 11 Jul 2011 at 19:09

Has anyone travelled with (or know someone that has) with Trek America, http://www.trekamerica.co.uk/

If so would you recommend it?

DJDaz · 11 Jul 2011 at 19:24

I done the Cross Country Cruising trek in 2008. Went from Newark, New Jersey to LA across the southern states.

I really enjoyed it and would love to do it again. The only thing you should be aware of is that it can be quite rushed. You only get 1 or 2 days in each place and spend quite a lot of time on the tour bus.

Would definately recommend it though. I went on my own but so did most of the others on my tour so it doesn't take long to make friends with everyone.

Blackstar_solar · 11 Jul 2011 at 19:33

In addition to the OPs question, I take it on trekamerica you camp in tents the whole time?

DJDaz · 11 Jul 2011 at 19:46

Most of the tours is camping but i didn't fancy that much so i done one of the budget lodging tours where you stay in a mixture of hostels and hotels.

DJDaz · 11 Jul 2011 at 19:48

This is the one i done http://www.trekamerica.co.uk/tours/snb.html

JamesU2005 · 11 Jul 2011 at 19:55

DJDaz said:
I done the Cross Country Cruising trek in 2008. Went from Newark, New Jersey to LA across the southern states.

I really enjoyed it and would love to do it again. The only thing you should be aware of is that it can be quite rushed. You only get 1 or 2 days in each place and spend quite a lot of time on the tour bus.

Would definately recommend it though. I went on my own but so did most of the others on my tour so it doesn't take long to make friends with everyone.

Yeah looking at the iterinary it does look quite quick, but very good fun from searching videos on YouTube etc.

How long did you go for? Did you just take a backpack or suitcase?

Blackstar_solar said:
In addition to the OPs question, I take it on trekamerica you camp in tents the whole time?

Yes camping but it's America so roughing it probably isn't too bad.

[TW]Fox · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:14

Do it yourself with a hire car and a copy of Roomsaver.com.

toshj · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:24

If you go DIY, make sure you plan beforehand. I did it for four months and it cost and arm and a leg... we were somewhat gung ho though!

cm1179 · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:24

i echo the do it yourself idea. i could think of nothing worse than travelling a country on someone elses schedule.

physichull · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:33

I've often wondered about doing this. It would be a huge benefit to me for it all to be organised for me, even if every stop is just a few days. If I had to do it, I would go for the longest one I could afford. There is too much to see and do in the US though. If only I could afford to take a few months off work and go travelling there!

cm1179 · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:37

physichull said:
If only I could afford to take a few months off work and go travelling there!

i'm facing a similar dilemma with australia. i know that i will regret it for the rest of my life if it don't do what i want to do and feel it is worth the financial risk. last time i went travelling (europe) i only had to worry about my money running out and could budget against it, now i have to budget for lost earnings and mortgage payments, bills etc. it's a very frustrating situation because something is telling me to go for it.

physichull · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:44

cm1179 said:
i'm facing a similar dilemma with australia. i know that i will regret it for the rest of my life if it don't do what i want to do and feel it is worth the financial risk. last time i went travelling (europe) i only had to worry about my money running out and could budget against it, now i have to budget for lost earnings and mortgage payments, bills etc. it's a very frustrating situation because something is telling me to go for it.

Fortunately I don't have any mortgage to worry about, but its hard to see me taking time out of my still young career to pause and go travelling.

Missed opportunity maybe, but I hope to amend it. Totally understand your concerns though.

cm1179 · 11 Jul 2011 at 20:46

physichull said:
but its hard to see me taking time out of my still young career to pause and go travelling.

i would do it, memories for life and will be a learning curve in itself.

weyland yutani · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:10

I did a four week trip of the western United States with Trek America in 2006. I had a brilliant time with a good bunch of people on the trip, athough our guide was a **** to be honest.

Maybe their trips are all different but mine was more geared towards outdoors activities and camping most nights. I got to experience a lot, hiked to the top of Half Dome Yosemite and right down into the Grand Canyon etc We also stopped off at the major cities like LA, San Francisco and Vegas but only for one or two nights max.

It is a tad rushed and gets tiring with lots of time spent on the road, but a great laugh if you're lucky to be with a good bunch. Talking and drinking bud around a campfire each night in the wilderness was brilliant. I spent another week in California after the trip ended so I could do my own thing as well.

Well worth doing, great experience and memories.

Rich_L · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:17

If I was going to do a trek on my own I'd probably do this, the trip itself is only half of it, the rest is the social experience and I know a couple of friends and family members who have done it and had brilliant times, one even met their now-wife :eek:

That said, if you stay in hostels you'll likely enjoy the same experience and also end up meeting groups and tagging along with them etc, depends if you're the kind of person who prefers to be shoved into meeting people (trek america) or happy to go wander up to a group and strike up a convo etc in which case you'd probably be fine DIYing it in hostels.

Also I've seen a lot of these travelling through the state parks near Santa Barbara, seems to be quite a good deal and they look very funky

Around $40-$50 a day is an absolute bargain IMHO.

http://www.escapecampervans.com/

JamesU2005 · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:47

Thanks for the advice all.

Just wish I knew about such a service at the start of the year, bit late to do a long trip this year with work, booking flights etc.

quickshot89 · 11 Jul 2011 at 21:59

Off with them to Canadian parks next week on the mountie tour

DJDaz · 11 Jul 2011 at 22:05

JamesU2005 said:
Yeah looking at the iterinary it does look quite quick, but very good fun from searching videos on YouTube etc.

How long did you go for? Did you just take a backpack or suitcase?

I was out there for 21 days which was the length of the trek, but a few of the others did stay on in LA to do their own thing after.

I took a suit case but a few of the others on my trip took a backpack and i think a backpack was probably the better idea.

Here are links to my photos and videos from the trip

JamesU2005 · 11 Jul 2011 at 22:41

Thanks Daz, really helped me, though my bank account might not if I do go

Amp34 · 11 Jul 2011 at 23:12

I'm in two minds about this...

The first says, for the social experience it would be much better than travelling on your won... However...

For the actual sight seing it would be a lot better and cheaper going on your own...

Depending on how long you can have off and what you enjoy maybe have a look into volunteering in some way. You could always take a month and do a week or two in California volunteering, make a few friends and perhaps tag along for a week or two to places you actually want to visit. Then move somewhere else and do another week or two volunteering...

Any decent volunteering oportunities shouldn't cost you anything and food/accommodation may well be provided. This way youcould spend £1000 (inc flights) and get to spend a couple of months wondering around, with others.

For example, you could copy the "freedom trail" tour they have on their site by doing a weeks voluntering in the north (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont) and then visiting Boston and that area, then move south to the Carolinas, Viginia or Pensylvania and do another week or twos volunteering and another week or two of travelling round that area with some people you met. Depends what you want to do but if you like wilderness then the Appalachian trail club is one on the east coast you could look into, the West coast and central area have similar clubs (Oregon trail for one).